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OTTAWA, June 18 /CNW Telbec/ - The federal government should concentrate
on improving postal services rather than rewarding the international remailers
who have been violating the Canada Post Corporation Act.
Today the Conservative government announced it would introduce an
amendment to remove international letters from Canada Post's exclusive
privilege to deliver letters.
The government's amendment would allow international remailers to
continue to siphon off Canada Post's lettermail volumes and revenues, thus
eroding the post office's ability to provide service in remote and rural
areas. Canada Post President Moya Greene has estimated that international
mailers siphon off between $60 to $80 million dollars per year in business.
"In these difficult economic times it makes no sense to unnecessarily
jeopardize jobs in Canada Post by exporting this work outside of the country",
said Denis Lemelin, National President of the Canadian Union of Postal
Workers.
"Instead of legalizing the remailers, the government should take action
to improve postal services to the public. As a first step, the government
should implement the recommendations of the Canada Post Corporation Strategic
Review to establish a "Service Charter" which would define the Universal
Service Obligations to be undertaken by Canada Post including delivery
standards, rural services, the retail network, pricing and the exclusive
privilege," said Denis Lemelin.